The Heartless Alpha's Beloved Luna Novel

---- Chapter 369 Avery's POV The Splendor was a newer venue, Sebastian said as we pulled up. It had a gleaming modern outer facade that was mostly glass, allowing you to see straight into the lounge. Even from here, | could see the glittering chandeliers, red carpeting, plush furniture, and the finely dressed patrons. That woman was right, | quickly realized. | would have stuck out like a sore thumb if | came here in business casual attire. The place practically reeked of cash when we entered. Sebastian held the door open for me.

The moment we stepped inside, the hostess rushed over, ushering us to a curved booth in the corner. It was surrounded on three sides by partitions, with a privacy curtain if we wanted it. "It's a pleasure to see you, as always, Alpha Sebastian," the hostess said, seating us with a smile. "Will you be having the usual?" "Yes, Andrea. And bring the whole bottle." "Indeed, Sir." The hostess rushed away, beelining for the bar. | shot Sebastian an amused look. "Are you some kind of celebrity here?" | asked. ---- He smirked. "I have a membership.

| mean, everyone here does- you can't get in without one-but | was one of the first. A buddy of mine actually owns the place." "| see," | said, reaching for the menu. Everything on it was very expensive, most of it imported from overseas. | hadn't even seen some of these options in the fine dining establishments | took clients to in the human lands. A few minutes later, the hostess returned with a bottle of expensive red wine, which she poured for us. Sebastian ordered a couple of appetizers for us to share.

| sat back and swirled my wine in my glass, looking around "| have to ask you something," Sebastian said, leaning forward. " That dress... Is it yours?" | shook my head. "No. A nice woman loaned it to me. She said I'd stick out like a sore thumb if | wore what | was initially planning." "| see." Sebastian's cheeks flushed a little. "Who was it?" "| never caught her name. She was beautiful, with long hair. She wore a peasant skirt and a strapless top. She was at your banquet, too." "Must have been Melissa," he said. He stared into his glass. " She's my ex." ---- | sat up a little straighter.

"Wait, you have an ex?" | asked. "Did | not make it obvious?" Sebastian glanced at the wedding band on my finger. "We were fated mates, once. We got married and everything." He noticed the look on my face-I'd gone pale- and he quickly clarified, "It was an amicable breakup. We were bound by fate, but neither of us really loved the other like that. We grew up together and always saw each other as friends, not lovers." "Oh," | said softly. "Well, I'm glad it wasn't a contentious breakup. Otherwise, I'd feel really weird wearing her clothes on a 'date' with you." Sebastian laughed.

"It looks good on you, trust me. Plenty of men looked at you when you entered." He sipped his wine. "Did you have any relationships in the human lands?" | sighed softly and shook my head. "No, Not really. Human men never..." "Don't tell me human men don't like you or something like that. You're a beautiful woman, Avery. You could probably have any man you want." "It's not like that," | assured him, blushing a little. "It's just..." | reached up instinctively toward the spot where Gideon had once bitten me, marking me forever.

The mark had long since faded ---- by now, but | could always feel it there, buzzing beneath my skin like an itch | could never shake. "Your mate bond," Sebastian said | nodded and dropped my hand back into my lap. "We're still bound, even after all this time. It made it difficult to love another. | tried to move on, but I could never make it past the first date. It always felt... wrong."